Long Range Squirrels

[Greyfox]

Guess I missed this thread the first time around. About a dozen years ago I started hunting LR squirrels with a 22RF. It has become one of my favorite late season pastimes. Here in the Northeast the only clear lanes for the long shots on squirrels are usually made hunting the edges of power-line cuts or from large fields bordering productive woods.……It's quite addictive! I have been able to achieve first shot squirrel kills that have been as far as 200 yards with my Savage TR in 22LR. I also use this rifle for Rim-Fire PRS competition where steel plates are shot at 400+ yards. My favorite scope for rimfire hunting and competition is a Vortex 6x24x50 AMG which has the turret/reticle range to handle the rainbow trajectory of the rimfire cartridge. I program my rimfire data into my G7-BR2 Ballistic Rangefinder which has been very effective in delivering first shot accuracy. Ammo selection is key. My rifle likes Lapua Center-X and Federal HS GM Match.
Some 200 yard groups…

 

[VLD Pilot]

Guess I missed this thread the first time around. About a dozen years ago I started hunting LR squirrels with a 22RF. It has become one of my favorite late season pastimes. Here in the Northeast the only clear lanes for the long shots on squirrels are usually made hunting the edges of power-line cuts or from large fields bordering productive woods.……It's quite addictive! I have been able to achieve first shot squirrel kills that have been as far as 200 yards with my Savage TR in 22LR. I also use this rifle for Rim-Fire PRS competition where steel plates are shot at 400+ yards. My favorite scope for rimfire hunting and competition is a Vortex 6x24x50 AMG which has the turret/reticle range to handle the rainbow trajectory of the rimfire cartridge. I program my rimfire data into my G7-BR2 Ballistic Rangefinder which has been very effective in delivering first shot accuracy. Ammo selection is key. My rifle likes Lapua Center-X and Federal HS GM Match.
Some 200 yard groups…
View attachment 349221View attachment 349222View attachment 349223

My range is 500 yards. Years ago we shot our .22 RF rifles at 500 with some decent results. We used steel plates and while not every shot hit the steel plate, they all hit the backstop once zeroed. We could cold bore hit that backstop each time out. That was a 36"x36" sheet of drywall. Took a while to dial our rifles but once they were dialed, it was fairly easy to hit that target and often hit the 12" plate. Tried this a few weeks ago with no success. I'd definitely need more time to dial in my rifle. Just couldn't seem to hit the backstop that time out. Once temps warm up, I'm going to research my drop and dial for it rather than the hold over I used this past time out. It's a hoot hitting steel plates or targets at that range with a .22 RF. Bullets are harmless at that range but they do leave holes in drywall and remove white paint on the plates.

 

[isaaccarlson]

My range is 500 yards. Years ago we shot our .22 RF rifles at 500 with some decent results. We used steel plates and while not every shot hit the steel plate, they all hit the backstop once zeroed. We could cold bore hit that backstop each time out. That was a 36"x36" sheet of drywall. Took a while to dial our rifles but once they were dialed, it was fairly easy to hit that target and often hit the 12" plate. Tried this a few weeks ago with no success. I'd definitely need more time to dial in my rifle. Just couldn't seem to hit the backstop that time out. Once temps warm up, I'm going to research my drop and dial for it rather than the hold over I used this past time out. It's a hoot hitting steel plates or targets at that range with a .22 RF. Bullets are harmless at that range but they do leave holes in drywall and remove white paint on the plates.

They are definitely not harmless at 500 yards. One hit in a non vital area might not kill you, but a vital/head shot sure can. People poo-poo the 22lr, but it is a proven killer. I have a Winchester 74 and a pamphlet showing how to make a ground pit blind, and other details for a sniper to use in war with a suppressor attached. I have looked into it and the military used a few of these rifles for silent removal and harassment of enemy forces. They were very effective and I have heard of them being used at 200+yards with amazing accuracy. Mine will hit golf balls regularly at 200 yards, and I am sure it would do nearly as well at extended ranges. The men who used them are all but gone, but the ones who talked about it said they had never seen the enemy so confused, scared, and looking desperately for some place to hide, as when they were fired on by a silenced 22lr. They could not tell where it was coming from or how far away. It created pure panic and fear.

 

[VLD Pilot]

They are definitely not harmless at 500 yards. One hit in a non vital area might not kill you, but a vital/head shot sure can. People poo-poo the 22lr, but it is a proven killer. I have a Winchester 74 and a pamphlet showing how to make a ground pit blind, and other details for a sniper to use in war with a suppressor attached. I have looked into it and the military used a few of these rifles for silent removal and harassment of enemy forces. They were very effective and I have heard of them being used at 200+yards with amazing accuracy. Mine will hit golf balls regularly at 200 yards, and I am sure it would do nearly as well at extended ranges. The men who used them are all but gone, but the ones who talked about it said they had never seen the enemy so confused, scared, and looking desperately for some place to hide, as when they were fired on by a silenced 22lr. They could not tell where it was coming from or how far away. It created pure panic.

Nope

 

[Reemty J]

Grey fox what are the drop with what certain ammo from zero to say 300 yards, could you take time for an example, please?

 

[Greyfox]

Grey fox what are the drop with what certain ammo from zero to say 300 yards, could you take time for an example, please?

Sure can..
Using my Savage TR with MDT chassis. Federal High Speed 40gr GM Match, Velocity 1170FPS, G1BC .128, scope height 1.8", bullet length .5", .224 cal, 1:16TW, Zero 50 yards. Pressure: 29.5, Temp. 60F, Humidity 50%. I use a Vortex AMG 6x24x50 MIL with a 20MOA base. Both needed to have sufficient elevation at distance. Need to add the reticle for drops past 400 yards. The additional 100FPS of the FedHS helps without a material difference in accuracy.

50 yards; 0MILS,
100 yards:1.7MILS,
200 yards 6.4MILS,
300 yards 12.3MILS,
400 yards 19.1MILS,
500 yards 26.9MILS99

I prefer a MIL based scope for LR rimfire shooting….in my view, MOA is too tedious with excessive dialing and reticle holds easier to manage at the longer distances.

 

[holechit]

They are definitely not harmless at 500 yards. One hit in a non vital area might not kill you, but a vital/head shot sure can. People poo-poo the 22lr, but it is a proven killer. I have a Winchester 74 and a pamphlet showing how to make a ground pit blind, and other details for a sniper to use in war with a suppressor attached. I have looked into it and the military used a few of these rifles for silent removal and harassment of enemy forces. They were very effective and I have heard of them being used at 200+yards with amazing accuracy. Mine will hit golf balls regularly at 200 yards, and I am sure it would do nearly as well at extended ranges. The men who used them are all but gone, but the ones who talked about it said they had never seen the enemy so confused, scared, and looking desperately for some place to hide, as when they were fired on by a silenced 22lr. They could not tell where it was coming from or how far away. It created pure panic and fear.

What military was this? When?

 

[Reemty J]

Greyfox, many Thanks my friend, excellent example and thorough

 

[isaaccarlson]

What military was this? When?

The pamphlet I have shows a german soldier in the scope, but I don't know where the story was from. I read it somewhere in my search for info on the gun. Most sources say the rifles were loaned to our neighbors across the pond and that they never saw service, but I read an account somewhere that said otherwise. A very good read and chilling to say the least. Wish I would have saved it.

 

[Old Hickory 45]

I have another Savage rifle ordered, an A17 .17 WSM Sporter semi auto ordered and am planning on using n Athlon 3X-12X scope. In the meantime my old Savag BMAG .17 WSM works good. Rifle was ordered last January and I expect December delivery per what little info I can find.

 

[Dean2]

I have another Savage rifle ordered, an A17 .17 WSM Sporter semi auto ordered and am planning on using n Athlon 3X-12X scope. In the meantime my old Savag BMAG .17 WSM works good. Rifle was ordered last January and I expect December delivery per what little info I can find.

Neat idea, but with the cost of rimfire ammo I would be seriously looking at the 22 Hornet, 17 HH or the 17 Fireball if I wanted 3000+ fps. I can reload any of them for less than 17 HMR costs and they are WAY more accurate at 200 and 300 yards than any of the rimfire options.

 

[VLD Pilot]

Neat idea, but with the cost of rimfire ammo I would be seriously looking at the 22 Hornet, 17 HH or the 17 Fireball if I wanted 3000+ fps. I can reload any of them for less than 17 HMR costs and they are WAY more accurate at 200 and 300 yards than any of the rimfire options.

I've been reloading for many years. I'm not really sure that even when reloading components were considerably less than they are today that 17HMR ammo was more expensive than reloading any cartridge including .223. I might be sticking my nose where it doesn't belong or in my mouth so to speak but primers are around .11 ea. Cheap bullets maybe .20 ea. Powder is around .20per round (.223) and forget brass cause we're already higher in cost at this point than each 17HMR round is at around .32 ea. If I'm off on my numbers, please correct me. I love shooting squirrels in the late season. It's a blast and they make excellent table fare. Can take grand kids out and they love shooting. Cheap AND fun. I use a .22 LR mostly because they are still much cheaper than my .17HMR. Long range squirrels for me are 200 yards also. Most are killed inside 125 tho. Still a hoot. I have lots and lots of .223 brass and no way with powder, primers and bullet prices being what they are today that I can load them cheaper even having the brass than I can buy 17HMR loaded ammo.

 

[Sealesniper]

After each bear season closes, my peanut and corn barrels have lots of tree rats chewing on them and eating the bait. I sit back about 85 yards with my kids and pick them out of the trees with my 17 HMR. It is a great hunt 2 or three times each year and we normally kill 10-12 in 3 hours.

 

[Dean2]

I've been reloading for many years. I'm not really sure that even when reloading components were considerably less than they are today that 17HMR ammo was more expensive than reloading any cartridge including .223. I might be sticking my nose where it doesn't belong or in my mouth so to speak but primers are around .11 ea. Cheap bullets maybe .20 ea. Powder is around .20per round (.223) and forget brass cause we're already higher in cost at this point than each 17HMR round is at around .32 ea. If I'm off on my numbers, please correct me. I love shooting squirrels in the late season. It's a blast and they make excellent table fare. Can take grand kids out and they love shooting. Cheap AND fun. I use a .22 LR mostly because they are still much cheaper than my .17HMR. Long range squirrels for me are 200 yards also. Most are killed inside 125 tho. Still a hoot. I have lots and lots of .223 brass and no way with powder, primers and bullet prices being what they are today that I can load them cheaper even having the brass than I can buy 17HMR loaded

This is a very good discussion to have. My costs are 77/500 20 grain 17 cal vmax, primers I bought at 5 bucks for 100 and I get 400 17fb-700 of 17 HH rounds out of a $30 pound of powder. So that works out to 7.60/50 for 17 HH that travels 3600 fps. 17 hmr was 20 for 50. Even if you double all the component prices your are still at 15.20/50. I get over 20 loads on brass so I don't usually count brass cost.